sargent



R. N. SARGENT.

METHOD 0F MOLDING.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.6. 1914.

1 3 l 3, 55 8 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

R N. SARGE'NT.

METHOD 0F MOLDING.

APPLICATION min JAN.6.1914.

1,313,558. lutvntod Aug. 1t), 1915).

2 SHEETSM-SHEET 2.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

RALPH NELSONSARGENT, OF PERTH'AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROESSLER & HASSLACHER CHEMICAL CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF MOLDING.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 19, 1919n Application led January 6, 1914. Serial No. 810,544.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RALPH NELso-N SAR- GENT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Perth Amboy, county of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Molding, of which the following is a specification.

M v invention relates to methods of molding and has particular relation to the molding or forming of substances which are first caused to assume a liquid, semi-liquid or plastic condition, are run or forced into the molds in such condition, are solidified during the course of operation and then dis'- charged in solidified, molded form. I have illustrated the invention -in connection with the molding of chemical substances into solid form, the particular object illustrated being the molding of such chemicals into cakes or other shape of predetermined form, size and Weight, so that they may be handled Without breaking as soon as they leave the molding apparatus and may be readily util lized in the arts especially wherever either form or vweight is adesideratum. Forexample, if any given weight of chemical is to be used for a particular reaction, a certain number of cakes of the chemical, each cake having a weight preferably bearing some multiple or unit relationship to the desired weight, may be counted out Without weighing, and so utilized. Such method will greatly lessen the time of operation and hence cheapen the process, as the present elaborate weighing step at the time of use would be done away with.

In connection with the application of my invention to chemical substances, the chemical must first be fused or otherwise put into a liquid or sufiiciently liquid condition, then fed into the molding apparatus, and solidified at or before the time of discharge, the distance of travel between the feeding point and the point of discharge being preferably sufficiently great to permit the cooling or solidifyi-ng of the chemical or a shorter line of travel in connection with specific cooling means may be adopted.

In the following I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawings, one form of apparatus in connection with whih one form of my method may be practisec In said drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of the apparatus, parts being removed for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts also being removed in this view;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation, parts being removed;

Fig. 4 is a front view; and Fig. 5 is a rear view of one form of mold section;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of two mold sections, ace to face; l

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figs. 4'and 5; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View of a plurality of mold sections similar to those shown in Figs. 4 and 5 but shown adjacent each other S0 as to form a complete mold.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings 1 indicates the frame or table on which the other parts are supported. Said table may be fixed in position or may be provided with truck wheels 2, 2 and a guide Wheel 3 for example, by means of which the apparatus may be shifted from place to place as desired. Vertically arranged supports 4, 4 may be mounted on cross-bars 5, 5 in turn carried by frame 1. Supports 4, 4 are shown as arranged in two parallel series (Fig. 1) one on each side of the central line of the apparatus. 6, '6 indicate horizontally arranged guide bars fixed to one series of supports 4, 4, one of said bars being arranged near the tops of the supports 4, 4 and the other near the bottom thereof (Fig. 3), each of said guide bars being shown as provided with a1 bearing Way or track 7, on its inner edge.

f8, 8 indicate horizontally arranged guide bars adjust-ably mounted on the other series of supports 4, 4 so as to have motion toward and away from said supports in a horizontal direction, each of said bars 8 being alined with the corresponding fixed horizontal bar 6 and similarly provided with a bearing Way or track 7. The bars 8, 8 are mounted on pins 9 sliding in holes 10 in bearings 11 on supports 4, 4. 12, 12 indicate spring coils around pins 9 bearing at one end against bars S and at the other end against bearings 11 and having a' tendency to force bars 8 fixed bars 6, 6.

position face to face.

13, 13, 13, 13 indicate vertically arranged rotatable shafts mounted in any convenient manner (not shown) at each end of frame 1, each shaft carrying a pair of sprocket Wheels 14, 14 mounted on said shafts near the top land bottom thereof, each pair of sprocket wheels being the same distance from each other and from the plane 1 and each set of sprocket wheels being equi-distant from the corresponding set at the opposite end of the frame.

The respective pairs of sprocket wheels at the opposite ends'of the frame are connected together by a pair of chains, each chain oomprlsing a plurality of vertically arranged mold sections arranged to come into contact during the rotation so as to form acomplete mold, as hereinafter described. As illustrated (Figs. 4-8) each of the mold sections comprises a back plate 16 Vcarrying two pairs of opposltely extending lugs 17, 18 and 19, 20, one set at each end of the 'back plate. The front of each mold section is provided with recesses or cavities 21, 21, each recess or cavity forming a quarter of the completed molded form, the recesses .being separated from each other by a continuous vertical rib 22 and by horizontal ribs 23, 23, the horizontal ribs 'being cut away at their outer ends, as at 24, to provide a bore 25 connecting the completed mold forms vertically from the sink hole 26 at the top to the lowermost mold form of the series. The sink hole 26 is formed by means of recesses or cavities 27, 27, at the top of each section, each recess forming a quarter of the sink-hole.l The tops of the mold sections may be cut away as at 28 to form-1a continuous trough 29 when the oppositely disposed sections are brought into The adjacent mold sections are linked together by pins or rods 30 passing through lugs 17 and 19 of one section and lugs 18 and 20 of the adjacent section, pins 30 also carrying rollers 31, 32, rollers 31 resting on lugs 17 and rollers 32 resting on lugs 20. The teeth of the sprocket wheels 14 are -of such dimensions as to receive rods 30, and thus by the rotation of the driving sprocket wheels cause the endless chain of mold forms to be moved or pushed forward. The parts are preferably so arranged that the sprocket wheels engage the rods 30 at a point beneath lugs 18 and above rollers 32 resting on lugs 20. The chain of molds in its rotation is'partially carried or supported by rollers 33 in turn carried by frame 1. p

In the manner shown in the drawings it requires four mold sections to make a complete form` (Fig. 8), the oppositely arranged pairs of sections on the respective chains registering with and fitting closely against each other. The adjustably mounted guide 15, 15, linked together and bars 8, 8V are arranged so that their trackways 7, 7 Contact with rollers 31, 32 on rods 30 thus serving to press the one chain of mold sections against the faces of the other chain of mold sections which are held in position by fixed guide bars 6, 6, the trackways 7, 7 of said fixed guide bars contacting with rollers 31, 32 on rods 30 of its chain of mold sections. 34 indicates a hopper or funnel through which the substance tol be molded may be discharged into trough 29 or into sink holes 26.

The sprocket wheels may be driven by any suitable means, preferably so as to provide for variable speeds. Ihave shown such a driving mechanism (Figs. 1-3) whereby the sprocket Wheels at the right hand of the drawings (Figs. 1 and 2) are utilized as t-he driving means. The shafts 13, 13 of said sprocket wheels are extended downward and provided with worm gear wheels 35, 35 in mesh with worm 36 on shaft 37. Shaft 37 carries a. bevel gear 38 at the end opposite Worm 36, said bevel gear `38 being in mesh with bevel gear 39 on friction plate 40. Friction plate 40 is driven 'by friction wheel 41 on shaft 42 along which it is movable so as to cause friction plate 40 to travel at a greater or less rate of speed as may be desirable Shaft 42 may be driven by any convenient means. l have shown such a means in Fig. 2 wherein 43 indicates an electrie motor having a' gear 44 on its armature in Imesh with gear 45 carrying pinion 46 in mesh with gem-,47 on shaft 42.

The molded material drops into a suitable Container (not shown) at the forward (left) end of Ithe machine as the mold sections open, the pointed end 48 at the bottom of trough 49, .detaching the sink heads by contact therewith as the mold sections open, the sink heads passing down trough 49 toa suitable receptacle (not4 shown).

As stated above, one of the objects of my lnvention is to bring into certain form such chemicals are are solid at the usual temperature but melt when heated to a higher temperature. The chemicals which mav come into consideration extend over a wide range and as examples I ma)v cite caustic soda` caustic potash, sodium cyanid, etc. In formlng sodlum cyanid for example,` the chemical 1s heated in a suitable vessel, until the whole mass is melted and in proper liquid state. The fused sodium c vanid is then poured into funnel 34 and the machine set 1n motion at the desired speed. The fused material flows into trough 29 through `sink holes 26 into the molds so as to fill up the.

same, enough surplus of the material rcmaining in the. sink soles to completelv till the lnolds as the mass shrinks in cooling. The continuous motion of the chains of mold sections between the respective guide bars and the pressure exerted by the movable 0r spring adjustable guide bars against said chains, causes the mplds to come to# gether in' proper registryfand .very closely and tightly against ea'ch` other just before the funnel is reached and to continue in such condition for a distance of travel sufficient to permit, the molten material to solidify before the point of discharge or point of opening of the molds is reached.

The apparatus is preferably of, such length andthe speed of travel is usually so adjusted that the fused chemical Will have time to-cool oftl and solidify before th'epoint of discharge is reached but I may accelerate the cooling and solidifying in any desirable manner consistent with the nature of the chemical worked with. For exam-l plel I may blow cold air over the accessible surfaces of the molds or, if the chemical is not hygroscopic lor not too hygroscopic, I may sprinkle Water over the backs of the molds. Cooling means 50 may of course be utilized to cool off the hot molds after giving up their contents, so that the molds will be of a suiiiciently low temperature to solidify another charge of materialwhich otherwise, owing to retained heat, might be prevented from radiating enough heat to aS- sume the solid state before leaving the molds.

In practical operation of the apparatus certain important points have become evident in order to insure successful use of the same and successful practice of the process. For example, it is of importance that the chains of mold sections be rather pushed than pulled through the apparatus, each section in turn being engaged and immediately released again by the driving means which in turn engages and releases the adj acnt section, the sections being thus lined up one after the other, each section pushing against the one ahead of it. As the sections are of precise workmanship, each section being as the mirror image of its opposite section, and they fit tightly against each other face to face as well as edge to edge in the respective chains, a perfect and complete mold is formed vso that the form cast will not be distorted.

Another important point relates to the `form the chemical is intended to be brought into. It is a significant fact that, up to the present, chemicals, such as those named above, have been manufactured only in the form of short sticks made manually in small tilting molds. In research Work on manufacturing chemicals on a large scale in or having special forms, I have observed that the form itself into which said chemicals must be brought is of considerable importance.

having six or eight sharp corners formed 'by the intersection of three or more planes, the lines of intersection convening at a point common to any of said planes. By many experiments I have found that a prismatic -body having as many corners as stated above is not a suitable form for the purposes of my invention, but that a sphere, ellipsoid, cylinder or a body formed by the intersection c f the bounding lines of either of them With one of the others or a body formed by the intersection ofthe bounding lines of either of said forms with prismatic bodies and variations obtained by the combinations of such intersectinglines willv all give suitab-le forms. There are some forms with sharp corners which may be easily produced by the practice of my method and use of my apparatus, such as those obtained by laying planes through the ends of the axes of a sphere, ellipsoid, etc., but these are unsuitable for commercial purposes as far as chemicals are concerned, although they may be well suited for the manufacture of metallic bodies, for example.

The reason Why molds for forming prismatic bodies, especially those having unequal aXes, having six or eight sharp corners, are not suitable, is that, when opening, a mold for making such forms, in the act of discharging the molded body, scratches the product and breaks off the corners so as to make the same unsuitable for the market.

There arermoreover considerable advantages which vmake my method and apparatus, as well as the product formed, a great improvement over the present state of the art of finishing solidl chemicals for the market. The present method involves too much manual labor to permit the supplying yof low priced chemicals in special forms;

by my invention however, I can supply chemicals in any desired form or Weight in commercial quantities and at slight expense. The same remarks apply to those bodies of metal which lend themselves to treatment by my invention. of my invention also permits of forming products Which may be easily identilied by one not otherwise familiar with the characteristics of the chemical; that is, he is enabled to identify the same by form alone. It also saves considerable labor and expense in Weighing the material as the bodies formed may be of certain standard unit weights, so that the weight may be quickly estimated by count.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction as herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention and I therefore reserve the vright to make such changes as The practice fall Within the scope of the appended claims. As instances of possible changes I cite as examples the making of the apparatus as a Whole either portable or fixed; the substituting of molds of other form and type; the use of various means for actuating the apparatus, and for varying the speed thereof; substituting other means for breaking ofi' the sink heads, etc.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of molding a non-metallic fusible chemical substance comprising fusing the substance, discharging the fused substance serially into a series of moving molds and forming the substance into groups of cakes connected by the substance itself in vertical alinement With each other, each mold being adapted to form a plurality of the cakes in groups one beneath the other, the cakes in each group being formed serially beginning with the lowermost.

2. The method of molding a non-metallic fusible chemical substance comprising fusing the substance, dischargin the fused substance serially into a series o moving molds, forming the substance into groups of cakes connected by the substance itself in vertical alinement with each other and discharging each group of cakes simultaneously.

3. The method of molding a non-metallic fusible chemical substance comprising fusing the substance, discharging the' fused substance serially into a series of moving molds, forming the substance into'a series of groups each comprising a plurality of cakes and a sink head connected by the substance itself in vertical alinement with each other, discharging each group of cakes simultaneously and at the same time separating the sink head from the cake with which it is connected.

4.- The method of molding a non-metallic fusible chemical substance comprising fusing the substance discharging the fused substance serially into a series of cold moving molds, forming the substance into groups of cakes connected by the substance itself in vertical alinement with each other, discharging each group of cakes simultaneously, then cooling the molds and repeating the cycle.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

RALPH NELSON SARGENT.

Witnesses FRITZ ABEGG, s OT'DO K. ZWINGENBERGER. 

